New Delhi: The Central government on Thursday approved four-laning of two road projects, stretching over 289.5 KM, on national highways in Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The two projects would cost the public exchequer Rs 3,104 crore.

"The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) approved the development of four laning of 244.12 km long Beawar-Pali-Pindwara section on National Highway-14 in Rajasthan," an official statement said. CCI also approved 45.43 km Nagpur-Wainganga Bridge section on National Highway in Maharashtra, it added.

Both the projects will be implemented on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis under the National Highways Development Programme.

For the Rajasthan project, which is estimated to cost Rs 2,517.79 crore, the concession period is 23 years including 30-month time for construction.In the case of Maharashtra project, estimated to cost Rs 586.54 crore, the concession period is 18 years.

The main object of the project is to speed up the improvement of infrastructure in Rajasthan and also in reducing the time and cost of travel for commercial and other traffic plying between Beawar-Pali-Pindwara sections.

According to the official statement, "This project runs between Raipur and Nagpur and will reduce the time and cost of travel for commercial and other traffic plying between Raipur and Nagpur.”